Nephrolepis plant named ‘Nr. 20’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Nephrolepis  plant named ‘Nr. 20’, characterized by its mostly upright and somewhat outwardly arching plant habit; strong, erect and visible rachis; and uniquely-shaped undulate pinnae.

Botanical designation: Nephrolepis exaltata.

Variety denomination: ‘Nr. 20’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nephrolepis fern plant, botanically known as Nephrolepis exaltata, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Nr. 20’.

The new Nephrolepis fern is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Nephrolepis exaltata cultivar Nr. 21, (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,995). The new Nephrolepis fern was discovered by the Inventor in a controlled environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in November, 2001, as a single plant within a population of plants of the cultivar Nr. 21.

Since May, 2002, asexual reproduction by divisions of the new Nephrolepis fern in a controlled environment at De Kwakel, The Netherlands has shown that the unique features of this new Nephrolepis fern are stable and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Nephrolepis fern has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, under conditions generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Nr. 20’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Nr. 20’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Nephrolepis:

-   -   1. Mostly upright and somewhat outwardly arching plant habit.     -   2. Strong, erect and visible rachis.     -   3. Uniquely-shaped undulate pinnae.

The new Nephrolepis fern is most similar to its parent cultivar, the Nephrolepis exaltata cultivar Nr. 21. However in side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, the new Nephrolepis fern differed from plants of the cultivar Nr. 21 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Nephrolepis fern were larger than plants of         the cultivar Nr. 21.     -   2. Plants of the new Nephrolepis fern had longer and wider         fronds than plants of the cultivar Nr. 21.     -   3. Plants of the new Nephrolepis fern and the cultivar Nr. 21         differed in pinnae shape.

The new Nephrolepis fern can be compared to plants of the Nephrolepis exaltata cultivar Corditas, not patented. However in side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, the new Nephrolepis fern differed from plants of the cultivar Corditas in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Nephrolepis fern had longer, stiffer and         more upright fronds than plants of the cultivar Corditas.     -   2. Plants of the new Nephrolepis fern and the cultivar Corditas         differed in pinnae shape.     -   3. Rachis of plants of the new Nephrolepis were more visible         than rachis of plants of the cultivar Corditas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Nephrolepis fern.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Nr. 20’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of typical fronds of ‘Nr. 20’ (left) and ‘Nr. 21’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants in the aforementioned photographs and used in the following description were grown under conditions which closely approximate commercial production conditions from February to June in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperatures were about 22° C., night temperatures were about 19° C. and light levels were about 22,000 to 28,000 lux. Plants in the photographs and used for the description were about six months old when the photographs and description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Nephrolepis exaltata cultivar Nr. 20. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Nephrolepis     exaltata cultivar Nr. 21 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,995). -   Propagation: By tissue culture. -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 days at 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 35 days at 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fine and brown in color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Mostly upright and somewhat outwardly arching;             symmetrical; appropriate for 10 to 15-cm containers.         -   Plant height.—About 50 to 60 cm from soil line to top of             plant plane.         -   Plant width.—About 100 cm.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.         -   Frond description.—Quantity of fronds per plant: About 100.             Leaf arrangement: Bi-pinnate. Frond length: About 30 to             60 cm. Frond width: About 4 to 11 cm. Rachis length: About             30 to 60 cm. Rachis diameter: About 1.5 to 2.5 mm. Rachis             color: Between 146A and 148A; towards the base, overlain             with 187A.         -   Pinnae description.—Shape: Roughly deltoid, elongate,             narrow. Length: About 2 to 4 cm. Width: About 1 to 1.5 cm.             Quantity of pinnae: About 60 to 80 per frond. Margin:             Towards the apex, deeply dissected and slightly crenate;             towards the base, entire; feathery. Apex: Acute. Base:             Truncate, asymmetrical. Aspect: Undulate along axis.             Attachment: Sessile. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Leathery; glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: When             developing, upper surface: Towards the base, 137A; towards             the apex, 144B. When developing, lower surface: Towards the             base, 137B; towards the apex, 144A. Fully developed, upper             surface: Towards the base, 137A; towards the apex, between             143A and 137A. Fully developed, lower surface: Towards the             base, 137A; towards the apex, 144A. Venation, upper surface:             Similar to lamina. Venation, lower surface: Main vein, 187A;             lateral veins, 146B.         -   Spores.—None observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to     Nephrolepis ferns has not been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Nephrolepis fern have been     observed to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from 12 to 32° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Nephrolepis plant named ‘Nr. 20’, as illustrated and described. 